Ohio State’s New Breast Center Honors Chris Spielman’s Late Wife

Current ESPN radio college football broadcaster and Ohio State All-American LB Chris Spielmanwas in Columbus today to see the breast center at the Ohio State University named after his late wife, Stefanie, who raised millions of dollars for breast cancer research before losing her battle against cancer in 2009.

University President (for now, see how long he lasts after the next athletic department scandal breaks) Gordon Gee announced the naming of The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center, the only one of its kind in the Midwest to offer the full continuum of breast cancer care, from prevention and screening through detection, diagnosis and treatment.

As this is national breast cancer awareness month, the opening of the center brings some much needed good news to OSU.

The Center is home to some of the nation’s leading breast cancer researchers and physicians, all singularly focused on preventing, detecting, treating and curing breast cancer.

Stefanie Spielman graduated from OSU in ’89 with a journalism degree. During a self-examination at age 30, she discovered a lump that was diagnosed as cancer by doctors at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

The Spielmans set out to raise funding for breast cancer research at The James. They raised more than $1 million for the Stefanie Spielman Breast Cancer Research Fund in the first year. Since her diagnosis, the Stefanie Spielman Funds have raised more than $9.1 million.

Chris Spielman played 10 years in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills. He understandably retired early when a vicious hit left him momentarily paralyzed. As a player, he gained national media attention when he left the NFL for one year to be with his wife and family as Stefanie battled cancer. He retired as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Chris said he and his wife were motivated to philanthropy by the concept of “pay it forward,” an often-quoted adage of legendary Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes. “If you invest in the future of others, that investment is guaranteed to grow,” said Chris. “If you keep everything you have, all the services that you have, all the love, all the loyalty, all the good works within you, if you keep it, you lose it.”

Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site that generates millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports

A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio shows all across the world. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB)You should too.